As a trained first aider, you already have something incredibly valuable: the confidence and skills to act when someone needs help.
This Save a Life September, we're asking you to go one step further. We’re aiming to teach 500,000 people life-saving skills, and we want you to get involved! Help more people gain the knowledge you already have, whether that's a colleague, family member, friend or neighbour.
Every extra person who knows what to do in an emergency makes our communities stronger and safer, and you can help us to put the power of first aid in everybody's hands.
Too many people still don't know what to do
One in three people don't realise choking can become life-threatening within minutes. Less than half know the correct choking response and nearly a quarter say they've never learned first aid.
We know that, as a first aider, you know what to do, and you know how important it is to stay calm and focus on your training. But a quarter of the people we asked said they would panic in a serious health emergency.
This September, ask your loved ones, colleagues or friends if they'd know how to step in. What if you were the one choking? Could you be confident that those around you would be able to help?
For many of us, these skills become second nature after training and practice. But for millions of people, an emergency can be frightening because they simply don't know where to start, and this Save a Life September, we're asking you to help us change that.
The difference a few minutes of learning can make
During September, our volunteers will be out and about across England giving free first aid demonstrations. Why not check out what's happening near you and take your family along to learn some essential first aid skills – and have a go themselves.
We're focussing on vital life-saving techniques that can be the difference between life and death:
Choking
Research shows many people don't know how to help someone who is choking, and some believe dangerous misconceptions like trying to pull the blockage out with their fingers or telling the person to drink water. Refresh your knowledge here.
Cardiac arrest
Knowing how to start CPR and use a defibrillator could help save a life. Save a Life September demonstrations cover these vital skills. Remind yourself of the latest updates to CPR protocol.
Severe bleeding
Quick action can make a critical difference while emergency services are on their way and can prevent bleeding from becoming life-threatening. Find out what to do if faced with a severe bleed.
Our free demonstrations will share advice on how to respond to these scenarios. See what events are happening near you and take your family or friends along to one, or share online advice with them so they’d know how to help too.
The people around you learn from you
As a workplace first aider, you may not realise the influence you have. Every conversation about first aid, every experience you share and every time you explain why these skills matter could inspire someone else to learn.
Callum was having dinner with his family when a woman at the next table started choking. He said: "About a year earlier, I'd completed a first aid course through my work as a marine engineer.
"I gave her five firm back blows using the heel of my hand between her shoulder blades. When the back blows didn't dislodge the obstruction, I moved on to abdominal thrusts. Thankfully, they worked. A piece of steak flew out of her mouth, and she was finally able to breathe again.
"Looking back, the whole experience feels surreal. Because I knew first aid, I was able to just get on and do what needed to be done. But afterwards it was shocking to think I only had minutes to get the blockage cleared and horrible to consider what might have happened if no one had been able to help her.
"It's impossible to know what would have happened if I hadn't been there. I'd like to think someone else would have stepped in, but in situations like that, every second counts.
"I am a firm believer that everyone should have first aid training. I hope I never have to use those skills again, but you never know when someone's life could depend on you knowing what to do."
If you've used your skills, Save a Life September is the perfect time to share your story with us, as we could use it to help encourage even more people to learn vital first aid skills and save even more lives.
How you can help this September
If you’re wondering where to start, there are plenty of quick and easy ways to make a difference:
Building safer communities together
Imagine how many emergencies would look different if more people had the confidence to step forward. As a trained first aider, you've already taken that step. Now you can help others do the same.
Half the people we surveyed believe that communities would be safer if more people learned first aid.
All it takes to build a more resilient community is a few core first aid skills.
St John Ambulance is the charity putting the power of first aid into everybody’s hands, so we’re all closer to help in an emergency.
We teach life-saving skills, support communities with volunteers and youth programmes, and provide first aiders and ambulances at events nationwide.
We offer expert training and trusted supplies for first aid, health and safety, and mental health, giving people the confidence to act when it matters most.
Powered by thousands of volunteers and supporters, we work side by side with partners and communities to build a safer, more resilient society because together, we can save lives.
And we want you to be a part of it too.
Join Save a Life September
This September, challenge yourself to encourage at least one other person to learn a life-saving skill.
In your workplace, you could:
- Encourage colleagues to attend awareness sessions
- Run a first aid conversation during a team meeting
- Share first aid campaign resources internally
- Help colleagues locate first aid equipment and AEDs.
Whether it's sharing a campaign video, attending a community demonstration, discussing emergency response with your family or encouraging a colleague to learn first aid, every conversation helps put the power of first aid into more people's hands.
Sources:
The research commissioned by St John Ambulance was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2001 nationally representative respondents (UK). The data was collected between 13.07.2026 - 15.07.2026.
Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. We adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles
